Somerset West and Taunton

Somerset West and Taunton's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population passed 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Somerset West and Taunton increased by 5.5%, from just over 137,000 to 145,000.

The addition of almost 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Somerset West and Taunton was home to, on average, 0.87 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Somerset West and Taunton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Somerset West and Taunton increased by three years, from 42 to 45 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,600 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 13% of people in Somerset West and Taunton are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Somerset West and Taunton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Somerset West and Taunton

The proportion of married people fell in Somerset West and Taunton, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

During this period, Somerset West and Taunton went from having the 22nd-highest to the 11th-lowest percentage of married people out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton, which comprised one person, remained close to 31% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.4%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 35% to 34%.

The proportion of one-person households fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton without children remained close to 66% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (25%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.7% to 8.2%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 64% in 2001 to 65% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Somerset West and Taunton

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 28% in 2001

The number of people in Somerset West and Taunton that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 21,000 in 2001 to just over 40,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 28% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Somerset West and Taunton that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 100,000 in 2001 to about 91,000 in 2011 (from 76% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to just under 12,000 (from 7.6% to 8.1%).

About 750 people (0.4%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 540 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Somerset West and Taunton increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Somerset West and Taunton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Somerset West and Taunton

The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.4% to 7.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Somerset West and Taunton

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in Somerset West and Taunton from the White ethnic groups remained close to just over 140,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Somerset West and Taunton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 850 in 2001 to about 1,800 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 650 to just over 1,200 (from 0.5% to 0.8%).

Just under 310 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 230 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Somerset West and Taunton decreased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Somerset West and Taunton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Somerset West and Taunton, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Somerset West and Taunton, the proportion of private renting increased from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Somerset West and Taunton fell from 16% to 15%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 67%.

Private renting in Somerset West and Taunton increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.3% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Somerset West and Taunton decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Somerset West and Taunton, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of people working long hours fell in Somerset West and Taunton, but at a slower rate than in Mid Devon (one of the most statistically similar areas to Somerset West and Taunton based on ONS area classifications).

In Somerset West and Taunton, the proportion of long hours workers decreased from 13% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Mid Devon decreased from 17% to 13%.

Across the South West, the share of people working long hours decreased from 13% to 10%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Somerset West and Taunton increased from 2.3% to 3.1%.

Long hour working in Somerset West and Taunton decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Somerset West and Taunton, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that were employed increased from 51% to 53% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were unemployed remained close to 2.6%, while the percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that were self-employed increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of employed people increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (which remained close to 53%). Across England, the percentage increased from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Somerset West and Taunton remained close to 2.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Somerset West and Taunton by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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